The House sat under extended hours today
for the third and final reading of the Ngā Mana Whenua o
Tāmaki Makaurau Collective Redress Bill, which recognises
the historical claims of 13 iwi and hapū over their shared
interests in the Auckland area, including 14 of the
region’s maunga (volcanic cones), and motu
(islands).

The third reading was attended by iwi leaders,
Auckland Mayor Len Brown, and representatives from Auckland
Council.

“The passage of the Bill marks an important
milestone for the iwi and hapū of Tāmaki Makurau, Auckland
and the Crown,” Minister for Treaty of Waitangi
Negotiations Christopher Finlayson said.

The Bill gives
effect to the deed, signed by Ngā Mana Whenua o Tāmaki
Makaurau (the Tāmaki Collective) and the Crown on 8
September 2012, for collective redress for 13 iwi and
hapū.

The Bill will vest the Crown-owned portions of 14
maunga, including Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill, Maungawhau/Mt
Eden, Mt Albert and North Head Historic Reserve.

With the
exception of North Head and Mount Smart, governance of the
maunga will be taken over by a newly established board, the
Tūpuna Maunga o Tāmaki Makaurau Authority, made up of
representatives from the Tāmaki Collective and Auckland
Council. Auckland Council will continue to be responsible
for the day-to-day management of the cones.

Four Hauraki
Gulf motu (Rangitoto Island, Motutapu Island, Motuihe
Island/Te Motu-a-Ihenga and Tiritiri Matangi Island) will be
vested in the Tāmaki Collective, which will then after one
month vest the motu back in the Crown as a gift to the
people of New Zealand.

There will be no change to public
access to the maunga or motu during or after this
period.

“I am pleased the iwi and hapū of the Tāmaki
Collective have come together and reached this agreement.
This is an important day to help conclude the settlement of
historic Treaty of Waitangi claims across Auckland.”

The
Bill forms part of the individual Treaty settlements for iwi
and hapū within the Tāmaki Collective, which have either
been concluded or are under negotiation. The Collective
Settlement recognises the complex and overlapping nature of
claims in the Tāmaki Makaurau region.

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